They’re bumpy, jarring, troublesome, and a part of winter life.
City of Vernon road crews have been actively repairing potholes since early last week, and will continue to do so as the holes are reported to the city or found by staff.
“Much of the snow that we saw on the road has melted,” said Ian Adkins, city manager of roads, drainage and airport. “This means motorists may be navigating potholes that have formed due to water pooling and re-freezing causing damage to the asphalt surface. Our crews continue to make repairs as needed.”
City of Vernon road crews have also been diligently working through the winter road maintenance program.
Since the end of the snow fall, crews have been focused on removing snow from areas causing traffic sightline or safety concerns. These have included areas in downtown, near schools and at various locations on priority roads. Crews have also been removing snow in some residential areas where snowplow access had become limited, as well as areas that have poor drainage.
“It is important to remember, that during freeze/thaw cycles such as spring-like weather with melting and standing water, some repairs may only be temporary and require additional treatment,” said Adkins. “More permanent repairs will be made when weather allows. Each pothole is different so a different repair technique or product may be used based on the situation or resources available.”
During the winter, crews primarily use a universal patching mixture to repair damaged roads but the ideal solution is to use a hot mix method that includes recycled asphalt.
“The hot mix method requires warmer and dryer conditions,” said Adkins. “We prefer this method but it’s not always possible in winter.”
Motorists are encouraged to continue driving with care and to report potholes to the public works department through the city’s website Vernon.ca or by calling 250-549-6757.
As a reminder, 32nd Street (Highway 97) and Highway 6 are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and are maintained by its contractor, AIM Roads. Potholes on these two roads can be reported through AIM’s website, https://aim-roads.ca/.
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